Dustless bag discharge hopper



Feb. s, 1938.

N. STATHAM ET AL DUSTI-IESS BAG DISCHARGE HOPPER Filed Feb. 19, 1957 INVENTOR$ A/OEL .SrAW/AM ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 8, 1938 UNITED STATES PATET FFMTE.

DUSTLESS BAG DISCHARGE HOPPER Application February 19, 1937, Serial No. 126,576

4 Claims.

Our present invention relates to a discharge hopper into which are discharged bags of powdery material. In dealing with fine powders, among which may be mentioned activated carbon, chalk,

5 etc, the inconvenience arises that when the bag containing the material is emptied into the bin or other container, some of the powder escapes as dust into the air where it is apt to be inhaled by the operator and to be deposited upon his person. It is therefore an object of our invention to provide an improved hopper adapted to receive and hold a bag of such material and with which the bag makes a substantially tight fit, the hopper having a cutting or slitting device disposed across the opening thereof, so that the bag in the hopper may be slit by moving the cutter, and the contents of the bag so slit discharged into the container while the bag acts as a seal to prevent escape of material into the atmosphere.

Our invention will be understood by reference to the following detailed description taken with the annexed drawing in which Fig. 1 shows in elevation a bin and hopper embodying our invention with a bag in place.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of same. I

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view taken in section along line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a view in section along line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a view in section along line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of the cutting edge of the slitting knife.

Referring to the above mentioned figures, l denotes a cover adapted to fit over a bin II or other container, said cover having a central opening therein surrounding which is secured a hopper l2 desirably rectangular'in horizontal cross section, the longest sides of which, l2a, i211, Fig. 4, are flared upwardly as shown in Fig. 4. Disposed beneath the hopper is a cutter l having preferably an upturned cutting edge Hi. The cutter i5 is held against rotation as by being made of square or rectangular cross section and held in a guide I! of corresponding cross section, the guide being secured to the cover 10 by means of bolts 18. The cutter terminates in a handle 20 by means of which the cutter may be drawn across the opening of the hopper, thereby slitting the bag placed therein. The hopper is designed with respect to the bag 2| which is of a standard size so that the bag accurately fits the same, with the bottom of the bag flush with or resting upon the cutter l5. When the bag is placed in the hopper the cutter is in a position as shown in Fig. 3,

whereupon the handle is pulled outwardly, thereby slitting the bag, allowing the contents thereof to fall into the bin H without dust escaping into the air. The guide I! preferably extends a slight distance only across the opening of the hopper so that when the cutter has been drawn across the bag substantially no obstruction is offered to the passage of the powder in the bag. A hinged cover 22 is provided in order to close the hopper opening when the bag is not in place, while the inner end of the guide I! is provided with a stuffing box 23 with which to seal the opening around the cutter bar |5.

We claim:

1. In a device of the character described, a hopper, a cover in which said hopper is contained, said cover being adapted to close a bin or container, said hopper having flared sides adapted to receive and hold a bag containing finely divided material and with which said bag makes a substantially tight fit, a cutting or slitting device disposed across the opening of said hopper adjacent the bottom thereof, means for holding said device, permitting same to be drawn across the surface of the bag in said hopper thereby slitting the bag, whereby the contents thereof are discharged into said bin or container while the bag acts as a seal to prevent escape of material into the atmosphere surrounding the hopper.

2. In a device of the character described, a hopper adapted to communicate with a bin or container, said .hopper having flared sides adapted to receive and hold a bag containing finely divided material and with which said bag makes a substantially tight fit, a cutting or slitting device disposed across the opening of said hopper adjacent the bottom thereof, a bar or rod having adjacent one end thereof an upturned cutting surface and adjacent the other end a handle and a guide Way for said rod, the same preventing rotation of the rod.

3. In a device of the character described, a hopper, a cover in which said hopper is contained, said cover being adapted to close a bin or container, said hopper being of rectangular cross section, the long sides thereof being flared upwardly, whereby said hopper is adapted to receive and hold a bag containing finely divided material and to make a substantially tight fit with the bag, a cutting device disposed so as to move across the longer dimension of the hopper opening adjacent the bottom thereof and in contact with the bag in said hopper thereby slitting the bag, whereby the contents thereof are discharged into said bin or container while the bag acts as a seal 1 jacent the bottom thereof, a bar or rod having adjacent one end thereof an upturned cutting surface and adjacent the other end a handle and a guide way for said rod, the same preventing rotation of the rod, said guide way terminating a substantial distance short of the remote wall of the hopper so as not to obstruct the discharge opening when the cutting device is in retracted position.

NOEL STATHAM.

HORACE RICHARDS. 

